amenity

ame·ni·ty

noun \ə-ˈme-nə-tē, -ˈmē-\

plural ame·ni·ties

Definition of AMENITY

1

a : the quality of being pleasant or agreeable b (1) : the attractiveness and value of real estate or of a residential structure (2) : a feature conducive to such attractiveness and value

2

usually plural : something (as a conventional social gesture) that conduces to smoothness or pleasantness of social relationships <maintaining social amenities>

3

: something that conduces to comfort, convenience, or enjoyment <hotels with modern amenities>

Examples of AMENITY

1. The hotel has every amenity you could want.
2. <an unhappy, bickering couple who, at least in public, observe all the amenities of polite behavior>

Origin of AMENITY

Middle English amenite, from Latin amoenitat-, amoenitas, from amoenus pleasant

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to AMENITY

Synonyms: civility, attention, courtesy, formality, gesture, pleasantry, politeness

Antonyms: basic, essential, fundamental, must, necessity, requirement

Related Words: honors; ceremony, observance, rite, ritual; decorum, etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties; addresses, devoirs, greetings, regards, respects; favor, grace, kindliness, kindness; protocol, rules

Near Antonyms: boorishness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, ungraciousness; biliousness, cantankerousness, churlishness, crankiness, fussiness, grouchiness, grumpiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, peevishness, petulance, testiness; contentiousness, contrariness, orneriness, quarrelsomeness, querulousness; hostility, unfriendliness; sourness, vinegar

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Rhymes with AMENITY

serenity